There’s been a lot of chat about AT&T’s recent legal threat against the company that is trying to sell iPhone unlocking software. There is a flaw in the DMCA laws, and that flaw could be the reason AT&T wins.
A while back the Register of Copyrights said unlocking your cell phone was legal: “Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.”
Here’s the catch, key in on the words “with the sole purpose of…”.
By that definition circumventing for financial gain (like selling unlocking software) is illegal. Yes it is wacky, but that’s how bad the copyright laws are these days.
To make it weirder if they said “for the purpose of” then it could possibly be legal.
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August 28th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
So I guess the guy who unlocked the iPhone is coming to my school. Just thought I’d share that.
August 28th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Cool